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Feb. 14, 1933. A. w. HARRIS TRANsMIsslN SHIFTING MECHANISM l Filed June8, 1931 v S11/vento@ 1 mw Jlfyzm'f 1l l x V l s i' M Patented" 14, 19x33Y UNITED-fsm-ES ?;PATENTf-0FFFCE or DETROIT, MicrrIGAmn coRroRA'rIoN orDELAWARE j? u ppiznnsiyrrssioN sHIFTINe 'MECHANISM Aipncation ieafaunes; issiserial No. 542,s95.-lf`

This n invention relates` to transmission mechanisms "andhas particularreference to a means for ,retainingvin position the shiftk lever .Whichshifts thexforks of transmissions 5"-of automotive vehicles.` l f The`inventionresides .inpivoting to the r shift lever a bracket having apair of later. ally extending armsf -Eacharm is'provided With an openingin Which a rod orbolt 1s slidablymounted. Each bolt has a spherical headwhich is positioned in an opening in a stationaryplate attachedto thetransmission housing. The shifter forks move be- Vneath `the plate `andare provided With a.

recess in Which the spherical heads engage when the forks are inaposition such that they cause their respective gears to be dis.

" engaged. A spring surrounds each bolt or rod and constantlyurgesthespherical heads l tov either side ofits neutral position, the `1 springsWill tend to urgel thelever still farther in the direction` in' Which ithas been shifted and at the same time push upwardly thereon to holdagainstits seat the spherical ball of the shift lever positioned at thetop' of thel dome of the transmission. The device of the invention,therefore, performs the triple function' (1) of retaining the shifterforks and gears in position, (2) preventing rattleof the parts, (3) andholding the ball ofthe shift lever against the seat at the top of thetransmission dome. On the drawing: Figure 1 is a sectional view'througha portion of a,vehicle?transmissionlshovving the lever in neutralposition in full lines and in one of its extreme positions in udottedlines.. 1- m Figure 2 is a section' at right anglespto Figure .1 takensubstantially through thel middle portion of the dome.`

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the bracket. Y Y

l' Referring 'to the drawing, the numeral 2 lindicates the transmissionhousing as a l Whole. On the transmission'housing, there is permanentlymountedthe plate 4 which Hhas rigidly mounted thereon the dome 6. `5.0The dome is held in place by means of the against the forks. When thelever is shifted not' shown.

rivets 58. -A supporting plate` 10, VU-shaped in cross section,issecured to` the plate 4f I 14 of the shifterforks 16are-mountedw'fllhe forksyl extend: into the transmission hous` the gears18 through the intermediary of the collars 20. N I The plate 4j isprovidedwiththe 'lateral openings 22 and the central `opening 24.5Each-.slidable branch=14of the forks is proff vided with alrecess 26,Which-'recessesmate Y? With the opening 24 asshown'in' Figure 2.4 l

A shifslever' v28 extends into 'and` is .65 swivelled atthe-lupperfportion--of the dome and has its lower end g()v eirtending through i theopening 24 and into they recesses V26 the forks.- At the upper` portiony32` of the` dome, .therusuall-s'pherical ball member is 70 providedWhichV fits; inther usual-spherical .1 seat:A :This'structure'isconventional and iis The invention resides in providingfl a bracket34'pivoted' relative to theflever 28 75 by means of the pin 3G' passingthrough.;

"openings38 inthe bracket anda` suitableiA mated openingin the lever`2,8.` A/cotterr 1 pin-40 holds the pinn place. The bracket has`theupstanding:arms 42 andthe lateral` 80 arms"f44. l"Each, arm.44 isprovided'vvith an opening 4G for therecept-ionfof a boltv or pin `48having the' head` 50 at one'fend f and theYspherica-l ballhead-5n2 atits other end."- VThe ball 52 projects into fandconstant 85lybearsagainst: rthe sides 'of the openingslij 22 in the plate4 andseatsin one ofi a nume.

Vber of -recesses-54 in the slidable` branches 514 of thenforks 16. lEach -bolt-or pin 481 has; the collar 56 adjacent'V the yfb'allfhead -52and a coil spring 58 surroun'dseachiboltfand is confined betvveentheycollar56 and they-q arms: 44 of the bracket 34. I The-springs 58 areunder `oompressioirand constantly urge the ball-heads 52 intotherecesses 54.l 95 When the parts are ini thefull lineposi-y f1 l tionfshovvnin Figure-1; the alctioniof the springs 1; substantially.` Willbeon asvertical` 1 ine `and Turge Athe lever 128 in an upWard-` directionto cause the sphericalsvvivelmem" 100 m ring as shown in Figure 1 andengageA with ber at the upper portion 32 of the dome 6 springs are stillunder compression and constantly will urge the head into the lrecesses54, a different recess for the new position Aof,V

the shifted fork. The tendency of the springs to expand also will urgethe lever 28 toward the direction invwhich it has been shifted. This#will keep l the lower end 30 of the lever tightly against the end ofthe recess 26 to prevent rattle. The springs at the same time willcontinue to urge the lever 28 upward `to keep the ball in the upperportion 32 of the domeagains't its seat although the upward force of thesprings on the lever* 28 now wll'be diminished.

I claim:

l. In a shifting mechanism, a -movable shift lever, a stationary'platehaving an opening. inv which the'end of the lever is received, and meanspositively attached to the lever and constantly Vbearing Von the plateplate having an opening through which the'V end of said means passes Vtoengage the shifting mechanism.

6. In a shifting mechanism, Valmovable 'shift lever, a stationaryplatehaving an opening through whichthe lever passes, and means to holdsaid lever.' in a given position', said means being attachedintermediate itsV ends to said lever and constantly bearing on saidplateat one: of its ends and having its other end free. 1 Y f 1 InAtestimony whereof IV aix my signature.

ARTHUR w. HARRIS. f

in a single position to hold the lever a given position. e .Y

2.- In a shifting mechanism, Aa movable' shift lever, a stationary-plate having Aan opening through which the leverV passes, and meanspositively attached intermediate its ends to the lever includinga'sprin'g and constantly` bearing. against the plate in a singleposition to hold the lever in a given position. 3n1n a shiftingmechanism, va movable Shift lever, a stationary plate having anopeningthrough which the lever passes, a bracket attached to the lever, a rodslidably mounted in the bracket and engaging the plate, a spring mountedon the rod and held between' the rod and bracket', said spring and rodholding the lever in a given position.

4. ln a shifting mechanism, a movable shift lever, a stationary platehaving'` an opening through which the leverl passes, shiftablevmembersbeyond said opening operable by the movement of the lever, aY bracketmounted on the lever, a plurality of rods slidable in the bracket,springs mounted on thev rods and constantly urging the rods against themembers to retain the lever and members in certain positions.

5. In a shifting mechanisnn a movable shiftl lever, a stationary platehaving an opening through which the lever passes, and means attachedtothe lever `and constantly 'and resiliently urged against the plate toretain thelever in a given position, said

